Clutch warms up, them smokes

[dragon831]

I recently replaced my 5 hp tecumseh with the HF 6.5hp and also got a new clutch (same as the old one). After about a minute of riding, the clutch begins to smoke a little. Then of course if i continue riding it gets worse. I'm not going uphill. the drive sprocket has 10 teeth, the sprocket on the wheel has around 60. 13" tires. It doesnt seem like its slipping b/c the go kart will constantly accelerate. I've tried oiling it. Im not sure what else to do.

 

[dragon831]

here's a pic:

 

[racerc2000]

are you sure its not burning off contaminants? oils etc?

you do lots of driving to get it wet or leave it outside?

have you taken the clutch apart to check the inside surfaces for glazing etc?

is your crank seal leaking?

 

[dragon831]

No im not sure its not just contaminants or excessive oil. It also does stay outside. Nothing is leaking, it just smokes. it's possible I put oil where I wasnt suppose to. It's also might have sprayed some wd40 on it. Should I drive it for a few minutes just to see if it stops?

 

[dragon831]

exactly what part am i suppose to oil?

 

[redsox985]

Put a few drops of SAE30 (IIRC) motor oil on the bushing in the center. It should never smoke assuming there are no contaminants in there.

 

[Russ2251]

Oil will NOT fix it. Clutch is overloaded. Get a much larger driven.

 

[Blazkowiez]

There is a good chance the clutch has been damaged from excessive wear and heat, and now the spring is weakened it just smokes from being a dead clutch. Typically this happens from a wrong ratio, people holding the gas and the brake at the same time, excessive stopping and starting, people driving too slow where the clutch is not fully engaged, or driving up too steep of an incline.

 

[dragon831]

it's the same size/type clutch that was on there with the previous motor and i never had a problem with it. I dont think i can change the driven sprocket. It's attached in a way that I cant take it off. Why would that be the problem though considering its worked fine before.

i had a 5hp on there before with the same clutch and would ride for 20 minutes at a time with no problems. Then I got the new HF 6.5hp with a new clutch (same size as old).

 

[racerc2000]

I would say its contaminants. its your 2nd motor and at least your 2nd clutch.

how was your old clutch? im sure it was worn but you never said the old one smoked or stopped working.

I would clean the clutch. soap and water would be fine(just dry it well) I would suggest a brake cleaner. thoroughly clean everything up. put alil oil on the bushing.

test it out and tell us how it went.

pics would be great while your at it

btw. does your new engine idle alil high and make the cart roll alil when sitting? if you push it backwards is there more tension then pushing it forward while at idle?

good luck

 

[dragon831]

the old clutch worked fine, I just couldnt get it off of the old engine. The new one idles low, the clutch doesnt engage unless i give it gas. Guess I'll try taking it off and cleaning it up.......

 

[anderkart]

Good Idea, I can see oily spots around the holes in the drum so Id imagine oil has either slug off the chain (or you've over-oiled the clutches bushing) and now you've got oil all over the shoes.

After you get it all cleaned up, use some sandpaper to de-glaze the contact surfaces of the shoes and drum, so they can get a better grip to each other. Then just use like 3 drops of motor oil on the clutches bushing so the excess wont bleed inside.

I'm not a fan of clutches with cooling holes in the drum like yours because oil slinging off the chain can enter the clutch. But something you could do to help this from happening again is to wipe the chain off with rags after lubricating it, and before riding...

 

[dragon831]

is there suppose to be some sort of washer or something between the clutch and the engine? I took the clutch off and realized that there wasnt anything.